June 2000

Smoothing Out the Teen Years

by Linda Egenes

Francie McGuire, age 20, is a bright, confident college student who knows what she wants out of life. She practices the Transcendental Meditation technique twice a day, enjoys her studies, and has friends who support her desire to evolve. Yet Francie will be the first to tell you that her direction was not always so clear. As a teenager, she felt alienated and confused. Even though her parents were teachers of the TM technique, she refused to learn, wanting to fit in with her friends.

At a Maharishi Jyotish consultation, she found out that she was in the most difficult period of her life. "I was sixteen and having a really hard time, hanging out with the wrong people, not treating myself well," remembers Francie. "I was getting horrible grades, and couldn’t sleep at night. I was living with my mother and it was hard on her. She was the one staying up at night praying that I would come home safely."

Francie’s mother decided to have a series of Maharishi Yagya performances for her daughter. "Right after the yagyas I asked my mom if I could start TM. I started getting on a good routine, started meditating at home. I switched to another high school and made straight A’s."

But Francie was still seeing her old friends. "I was trying to meditate every day, but I was always getting phone calls during meditation, and pretty soon I just stopped. I felt like I was the only one who was growing. The energy was all pulled down. I felt like a fallen angel."

Francie’s mother had more yagyas performed for her daughter. "On a road trip to Iowa I asked my mom, ‘Why don’t we just stay here?’," says Francie. "I wanted to get away from the kids I was hanging out with in California. I was actually in a lot of danger there."

So Francie and her mother moved to Fairfield, Iowa.. Francie started taking courses at a community college, planning to transfer to the University of Iowa. Then about a year ago she started feeling confused and restless. "This time I was the one who asked my mom if I could have another yagya," says Francie.

Soon afterward, she decided to take two months of ceramic classes at Maharishi University of Management. "It was so different. My teachers and the whole environment was so supportive, loving and caring. I started recognizing that everyone at this school was here for higher education and spiritual growth, which were two things I wanted. At my other schools, half the students were there to party, and that gets in the way."

Francie also found that she produced ten times more ceramics. "The quality of my work also skyrocketed from a B or C to an A."

Last fall Francie decided to enroll at Maharishi University of Management. Looking back, Francie says, "Each yagya has helped me feel more free. I also feel so much more love, respect, and understanding for my mother."

Francie thinks that if someone is in a rough spot, they may not want to start meditating or be on a good routine, "even if it will help a lot. I was so out of whack that there was no way I could settle down to the level to say, ‘Yeah, I want to meditate.’

"At first I wanted to take all the credit for turning my life around. The changes were so natural. It wasn’t until I looked back that I could see that each yagya helped me evolve in the direction I was supposed to grow."

If you are interested in the Maharishi Yagya program call 800-483-2234 (from Canada or the U.S.) or e-mail MaharishiYagya@Maharishi.net.

Linda Egenes is the author of three books and a faculty member of Maharishi University of Management.